Abstract:

Based on the official Turkish-British relations of 1583, the relations, which were thought to have continued at an equal level until the last quarter of the 19th century, started to follow a completely different course with the coming to power of W.E. Gladstone. In this latest course the British state mind which aimed to destroy the Ottoman Empire, sent orientalist researchers to Ottoman lands to examine many areas, especially the Ottoman social structure. It is found out that these orientalists, whose identities include doctors, soldiers, teachers, and nurses, came to the Ottoman lands having finished serious training. Edward William Charles Noel, the subject of the article, was sent to the Middle East as a representative of the aforementioned orientalists. The personnel file of Noel, who conducted various studies and missions in the Caucasus, Iran, Iraq, and Eastern Anatolia, is in the British Library and has not been brought to light by Turkish academicians until today. The file, which deals with his education and achievements, includes very essential data. The subject of the article involves Noel's mission around Sulaymaniyah, his research on the Kurds, and what happened after the attempt to suppress the Sivas Congress. In addition, the criticisms and reactions of the British statesmen towards the activities of Noel during the process were also discussed in terms of reflecting the British state mind.